Criminal Profiling

Sa？etak In this paper, the author gives a fundamental overview of criminal profiling, one of the most interesting but also controversial methods in modern penal sciences. The paper is divided into three parts. In its introductory part, the paper gives a basic overview of the terminology and historical development of criminal profiling, with a reflection on developments in related sciences, such as criminology and criminal psychology. The central part of the paper analyses the methodology of criminal profiling and its basic elements, demonstrating how the process of profiling is conducted, and presents a critical review of the basic approaches and problems of profiling. The last part of the paper relates to the efficiency and applicability of criminal profiling by analysing relevant papers, with the author’s critical review of them. Following the conclusion, the author provides an annex to the paper, which contains a criminal profile of Jack the Ripper